College for youngsters of beggars, ragpickers a boon for slum dwellers in Gurdaspur
Ravi Dhaliwal
Tribune Information Service
Gurdaspur, January 15
You’ll by no means achieve anybody’s approval by begging for it. Once you stand agency and assured of your individual price, respect mechanically follows.
That is the motto of this border district’s solely faculty which particularly caters to kids of beggars, slum dwellers and ragpickers.
The Preliminary Schooling Examine Centre was opened in March 2018 on the Ram Nagar space which is thought for housing slum dwellers and ragpickers. Romesh Mahajan, secretary of the District Youngster Welfare Council, is the spirit behind this non-profit making initiative.
It was opened on panchayat land with simply 15 kids on its rolls. Slowly however very steadily this determine rose to twenty then 25 earlier than Mahajan determined to cease “admissions” when the energy reached 35. He didn’t have the requisite variety of academics and allied employees to show greater than 35 college students.
Manjit Kaur and Ashu Attri, each post-graduates, are the 2 academics who spend a minimal of eight hours each day, six days per week, making an attempt to enhance the lot of those underprivileged youngsters.
They’re aided by Purple Cross De-addiction Centre councillors, Komalpreet Kaur, a post-graduate in pc functions and Abha Sharma, a post-graduate in pc science, and Dolly Sharma, the final one who lends a serving to hand to the educating employees.
As soon as the scholars purchase proficiency in primary schooling, like studying, writing and recitation, they’re shifted to close by authorities major colleges to additional hone their abilities.
Mahajan pockets a invoice of Rs 2.75 lakh every year for being a ‘Good Samaritan.’ Mid-day meals, too, are served to the kids. “When a toddler is admitted, the mother and father’ fundamental motive is to make sure she or he will get a meal. In spite of everything, no person desires his little one to sleep on an empty abdomen. Slowly, the children get familiarised with the surroundings and begin having fun with their keep,” stated Komalpreet.
“I’m not doing all this to get any honour or reward. No person applauds nature, but she nonetheless glows. I’m doing this to make sure these kids get to dwell a lifetime of dignity as soon as they step into the surface world. They’re like moist cement, therefore, no matter falls upon them makes an impression. I attempt to make sure they face no hassles whereas getting taught,” he quips.
Three years after he established the Ram Nagar centre, he moved it to Maan Kaur Singh village, one more space which is inhabited by individuals reeling in poverty. Like in Ram Nagar right here, too, tents have been erected on panchayat land to supply a roof to the younger ones.
His scouts repeatedly go to slum areas, railway stations and the bus stands to determine and “carry dwelling” kids.
The centre has tied up with the workplace of the Civil Surgeon so far as caring for the well being wants is anxious. 60 per cent of the kids are anaemic once they arrive. Once they depart, not solely do their pink blood cells improve however their writing and studying abilities too present appreciable enchancment.